Mowing Bx 25D and rotary mower

mikeharold · Feb 25, 2016

So I've had my Bx25D since about august last summer and have enjoyed it and gotten quite a few projects done and have no complaints with the little machine. Today was the first time I pulled out the mower and set it up. Got it all dialed in and got to mowing, works great. Well, I thought so anyways. About half way through the front of the property I realized the top link wasn't floating and the braces were bowing. Tried to loosen the nuts and couldn't. Impact had no effect. Had to use a steel fence post on a monkey wrench to free them up!

Problem is, now I can't set a mower height. This is my first time dealing with a rotary mower. Am I mistaken or is there no way to limit the 3 point hitch height? How m I supposed to get repeatable height setting? Was hoping to do the back half tomorrow, but need to figure out how to set the height. I need to raise and lower the mower consistently.

The mower is a RCR1248. How are you guys setting your mowing height? Am I missing something? Your input is greatly valued and appreciated. Thanks.

jeff9366 · Feb 26, 2016

You need to add Limit Chains.

T-B-N Archive LINK: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ta-b3300su-zerco-check-chains.html?highlight=

oldnslo · Feb 26, 2016

On the BX models there is no position control so you must set the position yourself or add some form of hard stop like the limit chains.

mikeharold · Feb 26, 2016

That's kind of what I was thinking. Will run into town and see if tractor supply has something or else may check the dealer. Thanks.

Grandad4 · Feb 26, 2016

First, it's the two lower links of the 3 point that determine mowing height. At least at the front of the cutter deck, while the rear bogie wheel is supposed to carry the back end of the mower. The top link is supposed to allow the cutter to articulate up and down behind the tractor so it can follow minor hills and dips as you mow. On your RCR1248, as on my cutter, there is s "U" shaped bracket that swings freely at the top of the 3 point tower, which is where the top link from the tractor attaches. If you tighten up the top link completely after attaching it, the cutter will be rigidly attached to the tractor and will not articulate up and down. Crossing even a small dip could bend or break something. The idea is to adjust the top link so you have that "U" shaped bracket drooping almost down to vertical so it can swing back and forth as necessary. You have to tinker with the top link adjustment when you mount the cutter to get the right setting.

All of the preceding is generic to any tractor with a 3 point setup although some cutters don't have the "U" shaped bracket and use a check chain instead of a top link to do the same thing.

Larger tractors often have a position control arrangement for the 3 point lift that allows the lower arms to be dropped to a preset position each time, making it easier to raise and lower the cutter to the same height repeatedly. The BX does not have that feature, but repeatedly lowering the cutter to the same height can be done by observing that "U" shaped bracket as you lower the deck. Once you have it dialed in to so the cutter travels well at the mowing height you want, lowering it to the point where the bracket is at the same angle will return you to the proper mowing height. It does require you to do this on flat ground.

Rigging up limiter chains to do this sounds like an interesting spare time tinkering project.

Like a golf swing or one's fly-casting technique, this is all something that is easier to show and do than to describe in writing and gets to be second nature with experience. Hope this is helpful.